Friday, May 8, 2015

Life without Smartphones: Is that that bad?

Life without Smartphones: Is that that bad?

Today, I came across an article in
‘The Hindu’ which is basically an opinion of 4 of the undergraduate students in
Tamilnadu, India1. The issue was whether suppressing the usage of
smartphones is fine or not? Interestingly, all the 4 students were against such
suppression though one indicated he is going to restrict his ‘addiction’ to
smartphone usage.

What’s wrong?

·The
article talks about a survey. What is the survey and how can we access it? No
reference is provided for the survey, which is not an ethical practice? Without
data for independent verification, how can we trust this article

·Only
four sample responses are provided. And all seems to be in favor of smartphone
usage. None of them are rational, only ‘likes’. What are opponents’ responses?
Why they are not provided?

·How
are these four samples selected? What are the criteria? Is this ‘Cherry-picking’?

·Why
only Tamil Nadu? What about other states?

If all the above questions are
answered, we could take this article seriously. However, in their absence, this
article seems more of a PR exercise to
manipulate Youths’ sentiments against institutions restricting the usage of
smartphones2, 3. I’m really surprised that Mr. Modi’s Govt.
which has issues with environmental NGO protesting their potentially
destructive plans is least concerned about the manipulation of youths’
mentality by news media. Apparently, Mr. Modi would only take cognizant of his
opponents and not his corporate-supporters!

Risk
of equipment failure, misinterpretation of information, disturbance to work
(constant connectivity), getting lost

Could
provide an opportunity to learn App development to make some bucks or boast
your skills to potential employers

Input
cost for the equipment and the services is better invested in a stock market.
(Cost of 1 iPhone is ~Rs. 50K, cost of Infosys’ share is ~Rs.2000)

Connected…
always

Connected…
so could be tracked!

Imagine
if a stalker is tracking you

Loads
of apps – to improve productivity

Loads
of apps – many of which could be Trojans or spywares, trying to manipulate
people opinion2,3 or disrupt development

Possibility
of identity theft or loss of personal information

In short, it not the smartphones
that is a problem but how it is used. If institutions enforce restrictions so
that students’ education doesn't suffer, they are better judge of it, unless
and until one can come up with rational argument against it.